In the winter, the greenhouses of Bern’s botanical garden are an excellent spot to warm up and dream of warmer times. But actually, the garden offers activities all year round. Their varied programs range from concerts to poetry nights, guided tours, and art workshops. Of course, the garden is beautiful and inspiring itself, with its view of the emerald river (Aare) – I love to walk around and breathe in nature or to watch the small lizards relishing the sun sitting on the stone walls on a warm day in summer.

If I feel a little bit peckish, I stop by the Café Fleuri. They offer a small but hand-picked selection of breakfast dishes, snacks, cocktails and ice cream in the warmer months. On rainy days, you are served in the Orangerie among green leafy creatures. Please note that the café has a winter break from November to March.

You can easily combine a visit to the botanical garden with some sightseeing, bar hopping or browsing the numerous small shops in the nearby old town or the Lorraine quarter – for lovers of fair fashion, I strongly recommend RRREVOLVE.